Really Torques me!

old popper · Apr 8, 2015

Why do so many folks pulling trailers with pickup trucks think that they must drive with their driver side wheels on the center line?? A lot of trailers are wider than the truck, and that puts 1 1/2 to 2 feet of trailer on my side of the road while meeting them. It really upsets me to have to get on the shoulder with 2 wheels so they can have the whole dang road!

old · Apr 8, 2015

Think about the fact most are dime store cowboy's that do not have a clue how to drive a real truck

NCWayne · Apr 8, 2015

Short answer, if the trailer is wider than the truck, and they moved over to the center of their lane -vs- riding the line, depending on the width, it might throw their trailer tires off the road. I don't know about you, but trying to keep control of a tow vehicle, and the trailer, when the trailer tires are running off the road, isn't something I enjoy doing. It doesn't take much for the trailer to take control and make you go where it wants you to go, regardless of what you do.

Yes it might be a PITA to slow down, and put your outer tires a little off the road, but I'd rather to that than meet that same truck and trailer with the trailer bouncing back and forth, jerking the tow vehicle around, and chance having the whole rig jump the line, because the driver completely lost control because he wasn't 'riding the line'.

That being said, if it's a normal, wide lane, and not a narrow, country road, there is absolutely no excuse.

504 · Apr 8, 2015

I do the same thing as when I meet a tractor and field cultivator with six feet in my lane, I just keep going, I need a new truck. And before some start flaming, I came to a dead stop in the middle of US67 last fall when a big JD 4X4 didn t even get his duals on the shoulder.
I still do not know how he missed me,I ducked. Freightliners do not do soft shoulders.

vscummins · Apr 9, 2015

Sounds like a bunch of citiots need to go back where they came from

vscummins · Apr 9, 2015

Ya I had an idiot try that with Me hit my swather ripped his hole mirror and part of the fender off I kept right on goin come up to me and act tuff I'll beat yer brains out with a ball pien hammer before you open yer mouth

vscummins · Apr 9, 2015

Who do u drive for jb hunt

sms · Apr 9, 2015

I say no excuse also unless unimproved road. Legal width is 8' 6" most trailers are are 8' most secondary roads have 8' 6" lanes. I have a Kenworth tandem and 20 ton trailer and I do a good job of staying in my lane.

showcrop · Apr 9, 2015

(quoted from post at 20:50:31 04/08/15) I do the same thing as when I meet a tractor and field cultivator with six feet in my lane, I just keep going, I need a new truck. And before some start flaming, I came to a dead stop in the middle of US67 last fall when a big JD 4X4 didn t even get his duals on the shoulder.
I still do not know how he missed me,I ducked. Freightliners do not do soft shoulders.

Get an International. Mine would go in live sand or a foot of mud.

Bret4207 · Apr 9, 2015

(quoted from post at 23:33:18 04/08/15) Why do so many folks pulling trailers with pickup trucks think that they must drive with their driver side wheels on the center line?? A lot of trailers are wider than the truck, and that puts 1 1/2 to 2 feet of trailer on my side of the road while meeting them. It really upsets me to have to get on the shoulder with 2 wheels so they can have the whole dang road!

I dunno, but then I'm still wondering why the men and women in cars and trucks around us on our lane and a half roads always expect me to drive in the ditch while they safely say on pavement. Doesn't matter if I'm driving the F350, Burb or my wifes Jeep or Explorer, they won't get off the pavement at all. I,m not even going to touch on tractors and trailers.

Lazy WP · Apr 9, 2015

I don't know about the rest of the states, but Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska, if you are over the center line, with anything, you are liable if there is an accident. I don't care if its a tractor, car, trailer or what. You have to obay the rules of the road.
You want to step out with your ballpean hammer? You better be prepared for a 38, or a 44. You being stupid and not being on your side of the road is not my fault!

Meangreen · Apr 9, 2015

I'm with you guys, city folks that don't know how to drive. Most people don't seem to understand either that once they hook up that trailer to their truck the rules of the road begin to change aka DOT. I follow the rules as best I can and even put a "Private not for hire" stickers on my truck to try and deter the DOT (Hey one can try...) and had a 16 year old girl come up to me laughing saying that there was no way in the world someone was going to hire me for s*x. (I'll let you think on that one a bit) My buddy cracked up and I tried to explain to her that it was DOT related, but I don't think she believed me. BTY I don't think I'm that bad looking....

Richard G. · Apr 9, 2015

Here in SC, they have cut those little grooves on the side of the road. Some of these state roads are just barely wide enough for 2 cars meeting. My dually is hitting those grooves almost all the time just so I can stay on my side of the road. Really makes a a loud roar in the truck.
Richard in NW SC

NY 986 · Apr 9, 2015

Well put. I can still remember the time a girl stopped in her lane on a blind hill to attempt to get directions from me while I am on my tractor pulling a spray rig.

DoubleR · Apr 9, 2015

I'm of the opinion that most of them are too stupid the realize they are on the center line. They have never looked in their side mirrors to realize this as they are too busy with their phone. They are accustom to driving in a certain part of their lane and drive their wither their pulling a trailer or not.
When I see one coming on the line I move my pointing finger to their shoulder hoping they get the hint.

GVSII · Apr 9, 2015

Around me in NNY it doesn't make much difference what the other guy is driving.A good part of their half of the road is coming out of the middle.It's really bad during the winter months.About the only drivers you don't have to worry about are the ones in heavy trucks.
I've been run well off the pavement while in a right hand curve by oncoming traffic that was as much as two feet over the line.

NCWayne · Apr 9, 2015

Your right, but around me an 8'6" lane is probably going to have at least a foot and a half of the outside so torn up that it will bounce a trailer across the center line if you hit the wrong spot. That's no excuse for not moving back into your lane when meeting oncoming traffic, but is definitely a reason to 'take your half out of the middle' when running alone.

That being said, even if your riding with the inside tire right beside the center line, you are still in your lane. The difference is most people seem to gravitate to the outer edge of the road instead of toward the center line. So, in most instances two people passing have a lot of room between them as both are to the outside. If by some chance both folks are the kind that gravitate to the center line vs the white line, then it is definitely a hair raising, close call when the two meet. Although both are technically still in their lanes that's how mirrors get knocked off and a definite reason to have to change your britches when you get home.

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Apr 9, 2015

I am strictly an amateur at pulling a trailer and only do it a few times a year, and realize my short comings. My truck has a bug deflector on the front and I took a white paint marker and put a mark on each side that when I glance at it, where it lines up with the pavement is where the outside of the trailer tires are. Of course it is only accurate when traveling straight, not around a curve, but it makes it much easier to verify you are staying where you should be, especially when in heavy traffic or meeting the wanderers.

Ken Macfarlane · Apr 9, 2015

Here its because an 8'6" trailer that isn't over the yellow is on the gravel shoulder 1/2 the trip throwing rocks all over the road and tearing up the shoulder.

Donald Lehman · Apr 9, 2015

Raises hob with the life of the tires, too.

David G · Apr 9, 2015

I do not see that much.

My boat trailer is 8'6", it will only have a few inches on either side when driving on some MO roads.

old · Apr 9, 2015

NO I drove for my self and still have my CDL. I also at one time pulled mobile homes all over the U.S.A.

JMS/.MN · Apr 9, 2015

In MN, and I imagine many other states, farm equipment is exempt from width restrictions on common roads. That would include US, but not interstate highways. Really no choice to stay within 102 inches.

Richard G. · Apr 9, 2015

I wondered about that also.
Richard

T in NE · Apr 9, 2015

We cross a dam with equipment and there's not room to pass two tractors with duals. People don't look at what's coming at them. Last year the boss got half way across with a steiger, strip tiller, and fertilizer caddy. A pickup and boat comes onto the dam the other way. Thought the tractor was going to back out of his way.

I wouldn't want to pass the strip tiller with a 4 wheeler. But I have let someone pass me before crossing and had them stop traffic at the other end for me.

sms · Apr 10, 2015

Yep, your right about torn up roads, I've even seen the blacktop collapse from the weight of a truck or school bus. Our local town employees don't know what a shoulder is, ditch starts with a steep incline from the very edge of the blacktop, not much room for error.

Meangreen · Apr 10, 2015

I have designed roads in Iowa and Nebraska and have never designed one with a lane width smaller than 12'. I was told early on in my career that when people are driving vertical surfaces scare them and they feel they are closer to that surface than they really are. You will see people hugging or over the lines a lot in construction zones.

I don't get why it's so hard to keep a trailer in your lane??? I only pull one about 1000 to 1500 mile a year myself.

Really Torques me!

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